The Falkirk Wheel (Scotland)
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Transcript of The Falkirk Wheel (Scotland)
The Falkirk Wheel (Scotland)• The Falkirk Wheel, is the final piece in the renovation of the
canal system in Scotland that allows small boats (pleasure craft) to traverse the breadth of Scotland, from the Firth of Forth to the Firth of Clyde, The Forth and Clyde canals meet at Falkirk. The difference in the height between the two canals is 115 feet, Years ago a set of locks (11 in all) allowed the craft to reach the different levels. When the canals were being renovated it was decided that to try and repair or rebuild the locks was out of the question. The answer to the problem was to build a spectacular wheel that would accommodate 4 x 20 Metre long boats in a single go, and as one lot went down 2 more could be lifted at the same time. The following pictures show the wheel in all it’s glory. From entering the cradle to leaving it takes just 15 minutes.
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View back, towards the Tunnel
Approaching the Wheel on the lower level
Sailing into the Wheel.
2 boats in the Wheel
Wheel in vertical position
Wheel in motion
Boat entering the Wheel
Wheel in motion with the boat
Note the green boat in the far cradle
Green boat leaving the cradle
View of boats in the cradles